Homosexuals in East Africa

UGANDA: "Ugandan President Urges Softening of Anti-Gay Bill"
Associated Press (01.07.10)
Today in Kampala, Uganda's minister of state for ethics and integrity announced that President Yoweri Museveni favors dropping the death penalty provision from the Anti-Homosexuality Bill now before Parliament. The legislation would impose a life sentence for homosexual activity and execution in cases of same-sex rape or sex by HIV-positive gays. "The president doesn't believe in killing gays. I also don't believe in it," said James Nsaba Buturo. "I think gays can be counseled and they stop the bad habit." But the end of the capital punishment provision would not mean the end of the bill, said Mary Karoro Okurut, spokesperson for the ruling party. "Although the president is against some parts of the bill, the bill has to stay," she said. "[Homosexuality] is not allowed in African culture. We have to protect the children in schools who are being recruited into homosexual activities." The bill has drawn international criticism, in particular because activists say it would hurt efforts to prevent and treat HIV/AIDS in the East African nation.